It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The wonders and ways of God may not be apparent or fully known at present, but we can still marvel at His supremacy and worship Him in wonder- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Likewise we cannot have the Father or His Spirit without the Son I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me- John 14:6. Basic mathematics tells us that 1x1x1 = 1.. Believing in the above 3 points leads all Christians to acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity. I dont believe that God wishes us to be confused about the Three that are so apparent throughout the Old and New Testaments. We Christians believe it on faith. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . It does not imply Jesus was created if you emphasize that the Sun existed from eternity past. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. I think the analogy of the Sun works well. But it cant be that way with God. But the Trinity is our belief as Christians that God is one being who exists in three Persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. Jonathon serves as a lay pastor at Gospel Life Church in New Braunfels, TX and currently works as the IT Manager for a non-profit ministry. we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,neither blending their personsnor dividing their essence. If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, then its not really clear how someone can say that God is one or that only one God exists. Analogies often fall short. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. Similarly, in our aquatic analogy, water can appear in three different modes, depending on the environment, but the three are not co-existing. 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . An egg has a shell, white, and yolk, but these three are part of an egg or Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao but the same Philippines. in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the, is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the, being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. Yeah its definitely a hard thing to understand, let alone explain to little ones ! Should Women Really Keep Silent in Church? All Scripture is taken from the NIV version unless otherwise specified, Author Ignace Franz, translated by Clarence A. Walworth. When we use analogies, we need to indicate these things so as to not lead to heresies, A Catholic and Filipino writer interested in theology, philosophy, liturgy, politics, and law. If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. God controls that light. Each one is fully 100% God. Check out verse four: Holy Author, Holy Word, Holy Spirit, three we name thee; Still, one holy voice is heard; undivided God, we claim thee, and adoring bend the knee, while we own the mystery. . Did I leave out any analogies? Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. "The Egg and i - A Simple Explanation of The Trinity" - cafe Logos Hi Im not a theologian and I dont disagree with what you say but when you state that we know the persons of the Trinity have perfectly loved for eternity etc how do we know? The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. Modalism teaches that the trinity is not three distinct persons, but just different modes that God reveals himself to human beings. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. So while its tough to make sense of the Trinity, the Trinity actually helps us make sense of so many things we believe. show me your glory. The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. Each person is fully God (Phil 2; Acts 5:3-4). Jesus Person is joined to the Father by the Fathers Holy Spirit, because Gods Spirit is also Jesus Spirit - "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. I believe that the best way to talk about the Trinity is to simply say that God is one God, who eternally exists in three Persons. Perhaps youve heard the analogy that the Trinity is like H2O (the molecular symbol for water). But God is the eternal Light, which has neither had a beginning, nor shall ever fail. Jesus loves us so much that he did not obliterate people who died, with power that set stars in the universe. Both are one. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 butmore like 1 x 1 x 1.You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. There are, however, some that work better than others. Jesus Person is the image of Gods Person (Hebrews 1:3), and the Invisible Spirit of the Father that is in Him - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). The trinity is not a contradiction, but a paradox. We all want to experience the good life. The water analogy of the Trinity follows this line of reasoning: water can be a solid (ice/frozen water), liquid, and gas (water vapor), and yet all three forms are still water (H 2 O), and likewise, God manifests Himself in 3 different ways in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we must be content to admit that we cannot fully understand Gods nature in our finitude. He was with God in the beginning. Therefore it behoves us to know what He has revealed (including the Trinity), and to lovingly worship Him accordingly. Intercession: The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. ORDER from Barnes and NobleAmazon.com or wherever fine books are soldISBN-13: 978-1978167643Return to Cafe Logos Homepage | Bite-Sized Bible Bites, The Egg and i -A Simple Explanation of The Trinity. I can only shake my head when He does these things! True, we humans are image bearers but nothing in creation serves as an analogy for the Trinity because the Trinity is a doctrine of special (biblical) revelation not nature or reason. Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen In the second instance, the truth of Gods Trinity reveals a further aspect of Gods love for His people. Few topics of discussion in the Christian faith are more confusing than the idea of the Trinity. They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). Before moving on I should note that providing a full theological explanation of Trinitarian doctrine is well beyond the scope of what I can do here. God is like an egg - VTAide Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Yet, these persons are not separate from one another. PART OF A WHOLE. Wow! The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. But theres one problem: the water analogy is not the biblical picture of God. He is one God in three persons, all at the same time. The apple seed alone is not an apple. Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. Thus the Father is in Jesus " I and My Father are One" (John 10:30), "The Father is in Me" (John 14:10) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). Holy Trinity: Some Analogies to Help Us Comprehend But Hes God too, right? Another analogy that Tim remembers, being Irish Catholic, is the analogy of the shamrock with its three parts. History, lifestyle, family, music, theology, scripture, literature, the saints, church history, parenting, politics, prayer, the pope, and more. Dont become discouraged if you cant answer the question to your liking. For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. Tritheism denies the unity of the God-head by saying there is just three different gods. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). In Arianism, the Son is not eternally equal with the Father, but was the Fathers first and best creation. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. But this idea is central to the Christian faith. When we think about influential New Testament leaders, most names are male. Christians believe, then, that only one God exists but this God exists as a unity of three persons: a Trinity. God is like H2Olike water. In other words, this view denies Gods oneness. As John 1:18 says, Jesus is "the only begotten God, in the bosom of [God] the Father.". The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. Arianism clearly denies the deity of the three persons. If then the sun were eternal, the day would never end; but now, for such is not really the state of the case, the day begins with the beginning of the sun, and ends with its ending. St. Augustine's Analogy for Understanding the Trinity . The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! How so? Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. While an egg has a yolk, a white and a shell to make up the whole, each part is only ever . The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The unity or oneness of God is also found in the Bible. Jesus then becomes a created being and thus less than fully God. Here are a few common illustrations: The Egg- One egg has three parts: shell, whites, and yolk. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. The egg analogy fails because it denies that each person of the Trinity is of the same eternal essence. 4 Bad Analogies for the Trinity Justin Deeter Further, we can label each of the sides. Jesus is in the form of the Holy Spirit. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. He has not yet revealed some mysteries (what did Jesus do in His childhood, when will He return, what does the word Selah mean in the Old Testament- and so many more.). How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. This error denies something central to God that makes Him God. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. Another wrong illustration is using ourselves: I am one person, but also a wife, mother, and writer. in that while water can change into vapour or ice, Jesus cannot change into the Father or the Holy Spirit. Also, the egg is made up of three distinct and unalike parts. But, when it's heated, it turns into a gas (steam) and, when it's frozen, it turns into a solid (ice). Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Water is water, but exists in three different forms: liquid, frozen, or steam. There is only one egg with three different parts. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. Genesis 1:26- Let us make man in our image, in our likeness The plural us and our show more than one person was involved. There's a simple reason they don't work: The Trinity, as such, isn't like anything in creation. One is a musical chord with three notes. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. When we separate them we can fall into the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual deities as one. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. The Holy Trinity, one of the five Dogmas of the Church, is an extraordinary and unfathomable mystery. The following verses attest to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. How can we explain what it means to have three persons in one being? Each one is fully God. Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers The Holy Spirit prays for us. Armstrong. Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature. (Lateran Council IV), 4. You are an egg! The three parts create a unified whole. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. Because God is utterly unique, all comparisons will fail at some point. Depth isnt the same thing as height and height isnt the same thing as width, yet all three together are what comprise space. [4] The goal of an analogy is to draw out similarities between it and its referent in illuminating ways, not to define the referent itself. Not just for explaining it to others, but to bolster our own faith and see how each One works in our lives. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. There are many mysteries to our faith. Augustine of Hippo/On The Trinity - Wikiversity This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. They that dont have the Holy Spirit in them will talk like the Adversary. Analogies that we present would always be insufficient as none of them would equate to the incomprehensible beauty of God. Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. We also know that God didnt create humanity out of loneliness or boredom. His being is somewhat of a mystery to us. Sure enough, one member answered Well Ive heard that the Trinity is like water: water can be liquid, gas (steam), or solid (ice), but its still the same water. Or what? Jesus is fully God. Just like an egg, none of the parts are co-equal, nor are all of the parts necessary for the egg to exist. The best analogy for the Trinity (hold your stones) - The Project on Modernizations of this analogy include that of an apple (with the peel, the flesh, and the core) or an egg (with its shell, yoke, and white). As a result, this analogy actually teaches modalism. Theyve transformed. The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. in that He is not made up of three parts one part () the Father, another part () Jesus Christ and a third part () the Holy Spirit. For since light is always in existence, it is manifest that its brightness also exists, because light is perceived to exist from the fact that it shines, and it is impossible that light should not shine. This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. Unfortunately, no analogy is perfect. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. You can also catch up with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok Learn how your comment data is processed. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. A good example would be an electrical cord. So God performs 3 different roles/relationships but 1 God. So when God created us and revealed Himself to us, what He did was to invite us into the perfect goodness He has always known within Himself. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". An analogy illustrates that in a similar way, one shamrock can have three leaves on it, and the trinity has three persons that comprise one God. And let us once more come to illustrations. Jesus Person is joined to the Father by the Fathers Holy Spirit, because Gods Spirit is also Jesus Spirit - "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. He cares for his creation and his people. And whos the Holy Spirit? Part 2. Though I find the video to be hilarious and often . The more I reflect on Easter, the more Ive realized how much its become a consumeristic holidayeven Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. In some ways, it resembles the tritheism view (Misunderstanding 2). Jesus isn't a demigod or partially god. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves, just as the skin, flesh, and seeds of the apple are parts of it, not the apple itself. It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something.
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